"Meze and tapas bar concepts are the ideal way to showcase modern Turkish cuisine..Ishmail Tosin"

After leaving his homeland of Turkey as a toddler, he moved from Istanbul to Melbourne for many years and then shifted his family west to Perth, where his life changed forever. Having had great success with the Eminem style in Perth. Now, returning to Melbourne after a sabbatical in Istanbul, Ish has opened Gigibaba Turkish Tapas and doing what he loves the most. Ish says the meze bar concept in Melbourne is the ideal way to showcase his signature modern Turkish cuisine It has a warm and intimate tapas or 'meze' environment, featuring his unique personal styling, in the exciting and constantly evolving food and wine precinct of Smith Street in Collingwood. Gigibaba features an array of small, shared dishes and appetizers, including many of Ish's signature dishes. The other side of the coin - bar - is a focus too, with an eclectic wine list featuring more than 20 wines by the glass.

On classic v modern cuisine in Turkey? There is no modern Turkish food in Turkey.

Career you would have pursued if you had not become a chef?The next Gianni Versace.

How can we keep attracting chefs into the food world? Bring back the "biff."

Favourite sport?Football - the world game

Ingredient obsession?Artichokes.

On Turkish wines? We don't see any quality Turkish wines in Australia. The sooner we can get them over here the better. There is a strong wine culture in Australia that blends perfectly with Turkish food.

Organic food here and Turkey? Doesn't compare. The produce in Turkey is much better.

Describe the lifestyle in Perth when you were there? Whimsical.

Bookings: Ask for Bruce at GIGIBABA

102 Smith St, Collingwood

TEL: (03) 9486 0345.

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